NEWS
--The National Weather Service confirmed that though a lot of straight line wind damage in parts of Morrison County there was no tornado touchdowns on Thursday. However, three tornadoes later that night did touchdown in Burnsville, Savage and Apple Valley killing one person and injuring others with plenty of damage.
--Congratulations to Morrison County Jail Administrator Lieutentant Scott MacKissock, as he was the recipient of the 2021 Jail Administrator of the Year award. Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen presented the award to LT. Scott MacKissock at the 39th Annual Jail Administrator Conference which was held at Cragun’s Resort near Brainerd on September 16th. LT. MacKissock has 38 years of service with Morrison County and he will be retiring at the end of this year. The honor according to Sheriff Larsen was well deserved.
--Royalton held their coronation ceremony last night in an online event and King Brady Brown and Queen Callie Vannurdan was crowned. Dr. Kristine Wehrkamp, Superintendent of Royalton Schools announced the other candidates were Jake Anderson, David Fountain, Gabe Gorecki and Jacob Leibold for King and for Queen were Shelby Hovland, Emma Kasella, Alivia Pyka and Autumn Shoenrock There will be a Homecoming parade in Royalton at 5pm on Friday before football game at 7pm Friday night in Royalton.
--The community is invited to an unveiling event for Brainerd’s newest Babe statue. Babe the Waabigwan Ox is set to be placed on the corner of South Eighth and Laurel streets in downtown Brainerd. A ceremony will take place at that location 3pm Tuesday. Attendees will learn about the creation of the new landmark and its ties to the Brainerd community. The original statue belonged to Nor-Son Construction as part of the Brainerd Lakes Ox Trot in 2008. Nor-Son donated the ox to the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce, who offered it to the Destination Downtown Brainerd Coalition to add to the artistic and historic appeal of downtown Brainerd. Josh Porter, owner of Avalon Studios and creator of the ox statue, refurbished and applied the final clear coat. The Crossing Arts Alliance assisted with a call for artists to reimagine a new look for Babe. Babe the Waabigwan Ox derives its name from the Ojibwe word for flower. The artist, Brainerd teen Aiyana Beaulieu, drew her inspiration for the colorful print from Ojibwe beadwork, tying together the history and culture of Brainerd's Indigenous people.
--A 55-year-old Brainerd man was injured last Tuesday when the vehicle he was driving rolled over on Crow Wing County Highway 25. The crash was reported to the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office at 8:08am. The vehicle went off the road, struck a road approach and rolled. The driver, James Ames, suffered facial injuries and was transported to the Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd where he was later released.
--After cancelling last year, the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls and First Lutheran Church of Little Falls, invite all animal lovers and their pets to a traditional Blessing of Animals on Sunday, October 3rd at noon at Washington Park, 113 NE 4th Street in Little Falls. During the service, each animal present will receive an individual blessing. Bring your pet dogs, cats, llamas, guinea pigs, sheep, salamanders, wooly bear caterpillars, kittens and puppies, ferrets, turtles, pigs, chickens and cows. This event is held each year in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and all creation. As this event is outdoors the sisters are recommending those wear a mask when attending but it will not be required by the Sisters or the Convent.
--Two people were hurt and two people were cited in a two-vehicle crash in downtown St. Cloud Friday afternoon. The incident happened around 4pm at the intersection of Highway 23 and 7th Avenue South. The St. Cloud Police Department says a vehicle going north on 7th Avenue South drove through a red light and was hit by a second vehicle going west on Highway 23. Authorities say the second vehicle then hit the nearby Lily’s Wings, Burgers, & Things building, damaging the business. The driver and passenger in the second vehicle were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. That driver was also cited for a permit violation. The driver of the first vehicle was not hurt but was cited for running the light. No names have been released.
--The Minnesota State Patrol is asking drivers and pedestrians to please watch for each other. In the past weeks now that sunset is around 7pm many evening drivers have had close calls with pedestrians, kids off of activity buses and close calls with other vehicles and the State Patrol sent out a reminder late Friday to watch for pedestrians, slow down more when traveling into the sunset hours where the sun could be a distractions in open areas. Pedestrians are asked to please use crosswalks and walk at intersections and stop lights and follow the laws that are in place to keep all safe into the fall season. Local authorities also remind motorists to watch for slow farm equipment on roadways as this week is National Farm Safety Week and Harvest season is upon us.
--The Little Falls City Council meets tonight at 7:30pm at City Hall Council Chambers. A work session will precede the meeting.
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet Tuesday at 9am at the government center boardroom. They will make a proclomation of 4H week in the county, get the extension, sheriff's, social service, public health and other reports at the meeting on Tuesday morning.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Dakotah Wieczorek and Stephanie Scherping, a boy born 9-13.
DEATH NOTICES
--Louis E. Gross Jr. age 85 of Hillman.
--Joan Ring, age 82 of Little Falls.
--Tom P. Monahan, age 66 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= showers, T-storms, heavy rains, temps drop into 50s.
TONIGHT= t-storms early, heavy rain, then clearing, cool, low 46.
TUESDAY= sunny and breezy, cooler, high 63, low near 45.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and not as windy, high near 70, low near 40.
SPORTS
TWINS= Polanco, Donaldson and Sano homer for the Twins as they beat Toronto 7-3 on Friday night. Toronto beat the Twins 6-2 on Saturday then Toronto won Sunday 5-3 to take the 3 game series. The Twins have today off and at Wrigley Field vs. Cubs Tuesday.
NFL= Vikings miss the game winning field goal and Arizona holds on to win 34-33 Sunday. Vikings 0-2 and will host Seattle Sunday.
COL FB= Gophers beat up Colorado winning 30-0 on Saturday. Gophers host Bowling Green on Saturday at 11am on AM960 KLTF.
HS FB= Pierz wins 34-6 over Montevideo, Royalton wins 14-13 over Howard Lake, USA wins while Little Falls, Holdingford, Pillager, Foley and Staples-Motley all lost on Friday in High School Football action.